Users of Google Drive and Google Docs should check their e-mails with care. It has been reported that criminals are using intricate phishing techniques to try to obtain access to personal information and commit identity theft.
Google Drive phishing attack
Google Drive and Google Docs users have reported increasingly receiving phishing e-mails. The e-mails trick victims, by asking them to view a document on Google Docs.
According to Symantec, those who fall prey to the phishing attack and click the link are forwarded to a registration website, which is purportedly from Google Drive. The website, which is run by identity thieves, appears deceptively real and is even on a secured connection (SSL connection). This leads many to believe they are on a safe website.
It is thought the fraudsters have targeted Google, as once personal data has been captured, they can be used them to access a whole range of other Google services. For example, users’ data can be utilised to purchase books or Android apps.
Be aware of suspicious e-mails
Google users should therefore exercise caution if they receive e-mails asking them to access a link. Under no circumstances should the link be activated. The best thing to do is to access Google Drive’s reporting website via the known URL. Online banking customers should also only ever access services via a known and trusted URL.
This way, you can protect your computer from phishing attacks, Trojans and malware. You should also double check all the invoices and bills you receive to make sure your identity has not been stolen.
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